Cure accelerators for anaerobic curable compositions

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to new cure accelerators for anaerobic curable compositions. These anaerobic cure accelerators are generally sulfonimide derivatives and sulfonamide derivatives.

RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA

This application continues in part from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/072,420, filed Mar. 7, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,411,009, which in turn continues in part from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/157,804, filed May 31, 2002 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,958,368 issued Oct. 25, 2005), the entire disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to new cure accelerators for anaerobic curable compositions. These anaerobic cure accelerators are generally sulfonimide derivatives and sulfonamide derivatives.

2. Brief Description Of Related Technology

Anaerobic adhesive compositions generally are well-known. See e.g., R. D. Rich, “Anaerobic Adhesives” in Handbook of Adhesive Technology, 29, 467-79, A. Pizzi and K. L. Mittal, eds., Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York (1994), and references cited therein. Their uses are legion and new applications continue to be developed.

Conventional anaerobic adhesives ordinarily include a free-radically polymerizable acrylate ester monomer, together with a peroxy initiator and an inhibitor component. Oftentimes, such anaerobic adhesive compositions also contain accelerator components to increase the speed with which the composition cures.

Desirable anaerobic cure-inducing compositions to induce and accelerate cure may include saccharin, toluidines, such as N,N-diethyl-p-toluidine (“DE-p-T”) and N,N-dimethyl-o-toluidine (“DM-o-T”), acetyl phenylhydrazine (“APH”), maleic acid (“MA”), and quinones, such as napthaguinone and anthraquinone. See e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,218,305 (Krieble), 4,180,640 (Melody), 4,287,330 (Rich) and 4,321,349 (Rich).

Saccharin and APH have been used as standard cure accelerator components in anaerobic adhesive cure systems since the inception of the technology, and has been well studied in that connection. Hitherto, it was believed that the nitrogen-hydrogen bond off the heterocycle ring was necessary to achieve performance under anaerobic conditions, as early studies substituting the hydrogen with an alkyl group proved to be ineffective. See F. J. Boerio et al., “Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering from Model Acrylic Adhesive Systems”, Langmuir, 6, 721-27 (1990), in which it is stated “[t]hese salts [of saccharin] are thought to be important factors in the curing reaction of the adhesive.”

And while anaerobic curable compositions having cure components including saccharin, DE-p-T and cumene hydroperoxide (“CHP”) display good performance on metal substrates, such compositions do not display as impressive performance on glass substrates. Thus, there exists a specific need to tailor anaerobic curable compositions to perform well on such substrates.

Recently, Henkel Corporation was granted U.S. Pat. No. 6,835,762 (Klemarczyk), which defines an invention directed to an anaerobic curable composition, comprising:

-   -   (a) a (meth)acrylate component;     -   (b) an anaerobic cure-inducing composition; and     -   (c) an anaerobic cure accelerator compound having the linkage         —C(═O)—NH—NH— and an organic acid group on the same molecule.         The composition is substantially free of acetyl phenyl hydrazine         and maleic acid, and the anaerobic cure accelerator compound         excludes 1-(2-carboxyacryloyl)-2-phenylhydrazine.

And Henkel Corporation was granted U.S. Pat. No. 6,835,762 described as an anaerobic curable composition, comprising: (a) a (meth; acrylate component; (b) an anaerobic cure-inducing composition and (c) an anaerobic cure accelerator compound having the linkage —C(═O)—NH—NH— and an organic acid group on the same molecule, provided the anaerobic cure accelerator compound excludes 1-(2-carboxyacryloyl)-2-phenylhydrazine wherein the anaerobic curable composition is substantially free of acetyl phenyl hydrazine and maleic acid.

There continues to be an on-going desire to find alternative technologies for accelerating the cure of anaerobic curable compositions, to differentiate existing products and provide supply assurances in the event of shortages or cessation of supply of raw materials. Accordingly, it would be desirable to identify new materials, which function as accelerators in the cure of anaerobic curable compositions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides new cure accelerators for anaerobic curable compositions. The anaerobic curable compositions are typically used as adhesives or sealants.

The anaerobic cure accelerators are saccharin derivatives within structure I

where R and R¹ may or may not be present, but when at least one is present it is ═O; X is N or S; and R² is halogen or a Group I element, which may be in hydrated form.

The addition of these materials into anaerobic curable compositions as a replacement for some or all of the amount of conventional anaerobic cure accelerators [such as o-benzoic sulfimide or saccharin, used interchangeably throughout, and cumene hydroperoxide (“CHP”)] surprisingly provides at least comparable cure speeds and physical properties for the reaction products formed therefrom.

This invention also provides anaerobic curable compositions and anaerobic curable composition systems prepared with such cure accelerators, methods of preparing and using the inventive anaerobic curable compositions as well as reaction products of the inventive anaerobic curable compositions.

The present invention will be more fully appreciated by a reading of the “Detailed Description of the Invention”, and the illustrative examples which follow thereafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1A and 1B depict a bar chart of breakloose torque and 180° prevail torque versus fixture time on threaded steel fasteners for anaerobic curable compositions, with and without saccharin and with and without CHP, for NOS or SBS, and as presented in Table 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides anaerobic cure accelerators, which are generally sulfinimide derivatives and sulfonimide derivatives. The addition of such compounds as cure accelerators into anaerobic curable compositions as a replacement for some or all of the amount of conventional cure accelerators, namely saccharin and/or CHP, surprisingly provides at least comparable cure speeds and physical properties for the reaction products formed.

The inventive cure accelerators may be within structure I

where R and R¹ may or may not be present, but when at least one is present it is ═O; X is N or S; and R² is halogen or a Group I element, which may be in hydrated form. More specifically, R and R¹ should be present and are S═O; X is N; and R² is chlorine, sodium or its hydrated form.

Saccharin is o-benzoic sulfimide. The N-chloro derivative thereof is shown as structure II, N-chloro saccharin (“NCS”); the N-sodium derivative thereof is shown as structure III, o-benzoic sulfimide sodium salt (“SBS”). The hydrated form of o-benzoic sulfimide sodium salt is shown as structure IV.

These saccharin derivatives are useful in, or as primers for use with, anaerobic curable compositions as a replacement for some of or all of the saccharin typically used as an accelerator. The saccharin derivatives display good solubility, stability and anaerobic activity in anaerobic curable compositions.

It is also desirable to include in combination various species within the genus of structure I. For instance, structures II and III and II and IV in combination provide improved solubility in a (meth)acrylate component and improved performance over either individually.

Anaerobic curable compositions generally are based on a (meth)acrylate component, together with an anaerobic cure-inducing composition. In the present invention, such anaerobic curable compositions are desirably substantially free of saccharin and include the inventive cure accelerators within structure I.

(Meth)acrylate monomers suitable for use as the (meth)acrylate component in the present invention may be chosen from a wide variety of materials, such as these represented by H₂C═CGCO₂R¹, where G may be hydrogen, halogen or alkyl groups having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, and R¹ may be selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkaryl, aralkyl or aryl groups having from 1 to about 16 carbon atoms, any of which may be optionally substituted or interrupted as the case may be with silane, silicon, oxygen, halogen, carbonyl, hydroxyl, ester, carboxylic acid, urea, urethane, carbonate, amine, amide, sulfur, sulfonate, sulfone and the like.

Additional (meth)acrylate monomers suitable for use herein include polyfunctional (meth)acrylate monomers, such as, but not limited to, di- or tri-functional (meth)acrylates like polyethylene glycol di(meth)acrylates, tetrahydrofuran (meth)acrylates and di(meth)acrylates, hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate (“HPMA”), hexanediol di(meth)acrylate, trimethylol propane tri(meth)acrylate (“TMPTMA”), diethylene glycol dimethacrylate, methylene glycol dimethacrylate (“TRIEGMA”), tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate, dipropylene glycol dimethacrylate, di-(pentamethylene glycol) dimethacrylate, tetraethylene diglycol diacrylate, diglycerol tetramethacrylate, tetramethylene dimethacrylate, ethylene dimethacrylate, neopentyl glycol diacrylate, trimethylol propane triacrylate and bisphenol-A mono and di(meth)acrylates, such as ethoxylated bisphenol-A (meth)acrylate (“EBIPMA”), and bisphenol-F mono and di(meth)acrylates, such as ethoxylated bisphenol-F (meth)acrylate.

Still other (meth)acrylate monomers that may be used herein include silicone (meth)acrylate moieties (“SiMA”), such as those taught by and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,999 (Chu), the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.

Of course, combinations of these (meth)acrylate monomers may also be used.

The (meth)acrylate component should comprise from about 10 to about 90 percent by weight of the composition, such as about 60 to about 90 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

Recently, additional components have been included in traditional anaerobic curable compositions to alter the physical properties of either the curable compositions or the reaction products thereof.

For instance, one or more of maleimide components, thermal resistance-conferring coreactants, diluent components reactive at elevated temperature conditions, mono- or poly-hydroxyalkanes, polymeric plasticizers, and chelators (see International Patent Application No. PCT/US98/13704, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference) may be included to modify the physical property and/or cure profile of the formulation and/or the strength or temperature resistance of the cured adhesive.

When used, the maleimide, coreactant, reactive diluent, plasticizer, and/or mono- or poly-hydroxyalkanes, may be present in an amount within the range of about 1 percent to about 30 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

The inventive compositions may also include other conventional components, such as free radical initiators, other free radical co-accelerators, inhibitors of free radical generation, as well as metal catalysts, such as iron and copper.

A number of well-known initiators of free radical polymerization are typically incorporated into the inventive compositions including, without limitation, hydroperoxides, such as CHP, para-menthane hydroperoxide, t-butyl hydroperoxide (“TBH”) and t-butyl perbenzoate. Other peroxides include benzoyl peroxide, dibenzoyl peroxide, 1,3-bis(t-butylperoxyisopropyl)benzene, diacetyl peroxide, butyl 4-bis(t-butylperoxy)valerate, p-chlorobenzoyl peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide, t-butyl cumyl peroxide, butyl perbenzoate, di-t-butyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di-t-butylperoxyhexane, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di-t-butyl-peroxyhex-3-yne, 4-methyl-2,2-di-t-butylperoxypentane and combinations thereof.

Such peroxide compounds are typically employed in the present invention in the range of from about 0.1 to about 10 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, with about 1 to about 5 percent by weight being desirable.

Conventional co-accelerators of free radical polymerization may also be used in conjunction with the inventive anaerobic cure accelerators. Such co-accelerators are typically of the hydrazine variety (e.g., APH), as disclosed in the '330 and '349 patents.

Stabilizers and inhibitors (such as phenols including hydroquinone and quinones) may also be employed to control and prevent premature peroxide decomposition and polymerization of the composition of the present invention, as well as Chelating agents [such as the tetrasodium salt of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (“EDTA”)] to trap trace amounts of metal contaminants therefrom. When used, chelators may ordinarily be present in the compositions in an amount from about 0.001 percent by weight to about 0.1 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

The inventive anaerobic cure accelerators may be used in amounts of about 0.1 to about 10 percent by weight, such as about 1 to about 5 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. When used in combination with conventional accelerators (though at lower levels, for such conventional accelerators), the inventive accelerators should be used in amounts of about 0.01 to about 5 percent by weight, such as about 0.02 to about 3 percent by weight.

Metal catalyst solutions or pre-mixes thereof are used in amounts of about 0.03 to about 0.1 percent by weight. Other agents such as thickeners, non-reactive plasticizers, fillers, toughening components (such as elastomers and rubbers), and other well-known additives may be incorporated therein where the art-skilled believes it would be desirable to do so.

The present invention also provides methods of preparing and using the inventive anaerobic adhesive compositions, as well as reaction products of the compositions.

The compositions of the present invention may be prepared using conventional methods which are well known to those persons of skill in the art. For instance, the components of the inventive compositions may be mixed together in any convenient order consistent with the roles and functions the components are to perform in the compositions. Conventional mixing techniques using known apparatus may be employed.

The compositions of this invention may be applied to a variety of substrates to perform with the desired benefits and advantages described herein. For instance, appropriate substrates may be constructed from steel, brass, copper, aluminum, zinc, glass and other metals and alloys, ceramics and thermosets. The compositions of this invention demonstrate particularly good bond strength on steel, glass and aluminum. An appropriate primer may be applied to a surface of the chosen substrate to enhance cure rate. Or, the inventive anaerobic cure accelerator may be used as a primer itself. See e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,473 (Ramos).

In addition, this invention provides a method of preparing an anaerobic curable composition, a step of which includes mixing together a (meth)acrylate component and an anaerobic cure-inducing composition, desirably substantially free of saccharin, but including the inventive anaerobic cure accelerators within structure I.

The invention also provides a process for preparing reaction product from the anaerobic adhesive composition of the present invention, the steps of which include applying the composition to a desired substrate surface and exposing the composition to an anaerobic environment for a time sufficient to cure the composition.

This invention also provides a method of using as a cure accelerator for anaerobic curable compositions compounds within structure I.

And the present invention provides a method of using an anaerobic cure accelerator within structure I as a replacement for some or all of the saccharin as a cure accelerator for anaerobic curable compositions. Of course, the present invention also provides for a bond formed between two mated substrates with the inventive composition.

In view of the above description of the present invention, it is clear that a wide range of practical opportunities is provided. The following examples are provided for illustrative purposes only, and are not to be construed so as to limit in any way the teaching herein.

EXAMPLES

An investigation was performed to evaluate certain compounds within structure I as a replacement for some or all of the saccharin used in anaerobic curable compositions.

These new cure systems were compared with control formulations containing the conventional cure components, toluidines and saccharin, by 82° C. accelerated stability, fixture time, and one hour/24 hour adhesion tests on nut/bolt specimens.

Structures II and III were evaluated individually and in combination to determine their suitability as a cure accelerator in the anaerobic curable compositions.

The inventive anaerobic cure accelerators and PEGMA, MA, saccharin, DE-p-T, DM-o-T, CHP, and APH were obtained commercially from Fluka and Aldrich Chemical Co.

Proton. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (“¹H NMR”) analyses were performed using a Varian 300 Hz Gemini Spectrophotometer. Infrared (“IR”) spectral analyses were performed on neat samples using a Perkin Elmer Instruments Spectrum One FT-IR Spectrophotometer with a Universal ATR Sampling Accessory.

A. Adhesive Formulations with Sulfonamide Derivatives

Samples A-H were prepared from the noted components in the listed amounts in Tables 1 and 2, by mixing with a mechanical stirrer in glass vials.

TABLE 1 COMPONENTS Sample/(Amt./wt. %) Type Identity A B C D (Meth)acrylate Base 91.1  91.1  91.1  91.1  Anaerobic PEG 200  2.52  2.52  2.52  2.52 MO Conventional Saccharin  3.78 — — — Accelerator Toluidine DE-p-T 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 Inventive NCS — —  3.78  1.89 Accelerator SBS —  3.78 —  1.89 Peroxide CHP 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8

TABLE 2 COMPONENTS Sample/(Amt./wt. %) Type Identity E F G H (Meth)acrylate Base 91.1  91.1  91.1  91.1  Anaerobic PEG 200  2.52  4.32  4.32  4.32 MO Conventional Saccharin  1.89  3.78 —  1.89 Accelerator Toluidine DE-p-T 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 Inventive NCS  1.89 —  1.89  1.89 Accelerator SBS — —  1.89 — Peroxide CHP 1.8 — — —

The Base Anaerobic was prepared from the following components in the noted parts by weight:

Component Parts Polyethylene glycol (PEG) dimethacrylate 62.67 Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 200 mono oleate 26.13 Chelator 0.80 Stabilizer 1.50 B. Physical Properties

Break and Prevail Strengths

For the break/prevail adhesion tests, the specimens were pre-torqued to 44 in lbf and maintained at ambient temperature for a number of time intervals, and evaluated for performance. The time intervals were: 0.5 hours, 1 hour, hours, 4 hours and 24 hours. The break and prevail torque strengths were observed and recorded for the specimens at ambient temperature for these time intervals. The torque strengths were measured on a calibrated automatic torque analyzer.

The data for these evaluations is provided herein in Table 3 and illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Each sample was evaluated in triplicate at the five time intervals noted.

TABLE 3 Breakloose/180 Prevail (in lbs) 30 60 120 240 1440 ½ Hour 1 Hour 2 Hour 4 Hour 24 Hour 180 180 180 180 180 Sample Break Prevail Break Prevail Break Preval Break Prevail Break Prevail A 81 9 112 17 125 22 165 27 158 43 90 13 130 22 163 27 165 27 160 42 88 13 111 13 143 30 180 38 170 31 D 92 12 128 16 167 26 130 22 198 36 106 14 152 28 138 19 176 22 170 29 97 13 116 16 131 20 155 27 185 23 E 76 9 113 15 140 22 146 31 160 33 85 7 116 16 152 31 177 31 170 37 72 9 102 16 160 25 170 33 155 38 F 85 16 111 18 113 23 126 24 94 33 85 14 102 20 112 22 112 22 88 21 78 11 113 16 127 23 133 24 92 14 G 75 13 124 14 107 18 133 19 110 28 77 11 97 18 97 18 141 24 116 23 80 15 113 18 102 19 126 18 127 27 H 52 8 88 15 87 18 119 25 86 23 63 8 82 13 85 15 114 18 82 17 58 9 75 13 73 15 135 21 104 20

Sample A (with saccharin and CHP) is shown as a comparison against Samples D and E (with two representative saccharin derivatives used individually and in combination). Sample F (with saccharin, but no CHP) is shown as a comparison against Samples B and B (with two representative saccharin derivatives used individually and in combination).

These derivatives are useful in anaerobic curable compositions as a replacement for some of or all of the saccharin and/or CHP typically used as accelerators. The inventive cure accelerators display good solubility, stability and anaerobic activity. 

1. An anaerobic curable composition, comprising: (a) a (meth)acrylate component; (b) an anaerobic cure-inducing composition; and (c) an anaerobic cure accelerator compound within structure I

wherein R and R¹ may or may not be present, but when at least one is present it is ═O; X is N or S; and R² is halogen or a Group I element, which may be in hydrated form.
 2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the (meth)acrylate component is represented by H₂C═CGCO₂R¹, wherein G is a member selected from the group consisting of H, halogen and alkyl having from 1 to about four carbon atoms, and R¹ is a member selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkaryl, and aryl groups having from 1 to about 16 carbon atoms, with or without substitution or interruption by a member selected from the group consisting of silane, silicon, oxygen, halogen, carbonyl, hydroxyl, ester, carboxylic acid, urea, urethane, carbamate, amine, amide, sulfur, sulfonate and sulfone.
 3. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the (meth)acrylate component is a member selected from the group consisting of silicone (meth)acrylates, polyethylene glycol di(meth)acrylates, bisphenol-A-(meth)acrylates, ethoxylated bisphenol-A-(meth)acrylates, bisphenol-F-(meth)acrylates, ethoxylated bisphenol-F-(meth)acrylates, tetrahydrofuran (meth)acrylates and di(meth)acrylates, hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, hexanediol di(meth)acrylate, and trimethylol propane tri(meth)acrylate.
 4. The composition according to claim 1, wherein in the anaerobic cure accelerator R and R¹ are each ═O; and R² is chlorine.
 5. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the accelerator is a member selected from the group consisting of


6. The composition according to claim 1, further comprising a peroxide compound.
 7. Reaction products of the composition according to claim
 1. 8. A process for preparing a reaction product from an anaerobic curable composition, comprising the steps of: apply an anaerobic curable composition according to claim 1, to a desired substrate surface and exposing the composition to an anaerobic environment for a time sufficient to cure the composition.
 9. A method of preparing an anaerobic curable composition, comprising the step of: mixing together: a (meth)acrylate component, an anaerobic cure inducing composition, and an anaerobic cure accelerator compound in accordance with claim
 1. 10. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the anaerobic cure-inducing composition comprises the combination of a free radical initiator and a free radical co-accelerator.
 11. A method of using an anaerobic cure accelerator compound in accordance with claim 1, comprising either: (I) mixing the anaerobic cure accelerator compound in an anaerobic curable composition comprising (a) a (meth)acrylate component; and (b) an anaerobic cure-inducing composition; or (II) applying onto a surface of a substrate the anaerobic cure accelerator compound and applying thereover an anaerobic curable composition comprising (a) a (meth)acrylate component; and (b) an anaerobic cure-inducing composition.
 12. An anaerobic curable composition, consisting essentially of: (a) a (meth)acrylate component; (b) an anaerobic cure-inducing composition; and (c) an anaerobic cure accelerator compound in accordance with claim 1; and (d) optionally, one or more additives selected from the group consisting of free radical initiators, free radical co-accelerators, free radical inhibitors, metal catalysts, thickeners, non-reactive plasticizers, fillers, and toughening agents.
 13. A bond formed between two mated substrates with the composition of claim
 1. 14. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the anaerobic cure-inducing composition comprises a peroxide and one or more of a hydrazine and a toluidine. 